Lent 2 - Romans - The Faith of Abraham

Lent 2 - Romans

Romans 4.13-25

...but also to those who share the faith of Abraham…(Rom 4.16)

With these words from Paul’s letter to the Romans, we take up where we left off on Monday—we shall read the text carefully as Paul interprets God’s covenant with Abraham, to see what we can discover about what God intends for us.

Paul writes here with a specific purpose. There is a conflict in Rome between followers of Jesus who are Gentiles (non-Jews) and those who are Jewish. It is important to remember that during Paul’s lifetime, there is still no clear “Christian” identity. These followers of Jesus view themselves as good Jews, as did Jesus himself. They are following a Jewish prophet who is calling people back to God, in the tradition of Isaiah, Micah et al.

Only gradually did the followers of Jesus realize that they were no longer Jews, but had a separate identity as Christians. Remember, Jesus was not trying to start a new religion. He was a reformer, calling the Israelites back to the relationship God desired for them—a relationship modeled on their forebears, Abraham and Sarah. Like Martin Luther, Jesus and his followers did not set out to start a new religion.

I use the term “Jew” here to simplify, but in fact, a “Jewish” identity was not formed until after the dispersion in 70 CE, when the Temple was destroyed and the community was forced to gather around the rabbis and their teachings. Before this, God’s people probably referred to themselves as followers of the one true God or Judeans. Paul is most likely writing in 57-58 CE.

The context of Paul’s letter to the Romans

In Rome, the Jewish members of the community apparently want their Gentile companions to convert to Judaism—to be circumcised—before they can join the community. In these verses, Paul looks to Abraham’s faith as the model and asserts that it is God who creates faith in human hearts. Faith does not depend on human actions like circumcision.

Does this sound familiar? The issue in Rome is ethnicity—who are the rightful heirs to God’s promise? The conflict in Israel/Palestine today centers on these same questions. Who are Abraham’s heirs? Who is entitled to the land that Abraham settled?

Paul finds his answer in Torah, which he knows well. He reminds us that God’s plans were for “many nations.” God’s plans are much bigger than we can imagine. God is not limited by our prejudices and our ideas of what is right and wrong, what is fair and just. God has plans that include everyone, not just the people we deem deserving. While we are busy dividing ourselves into insiders and outsiders, God works to include everyone. While we make rules about who can be part of the group, God is working to make sure the tent is big enough for everyone. Paul reminds us faith is not created by our actions, but by God’s. The land waits.

Gracious God, your creation is so much greater than we can imagine. We try to claim your love and grace for ourselves, excluding those we deem unworthy. But your prophets and teachers remind us that your love is bigger than our schemes. Help us open our hearts to your way of hospitality, welcoming and treating everyone with dignity. In the name of your son, our prophet. Amen.